ATLANTA – After five bouts that went to a decision, Travis Browne closed out UFC 145’s preliminary card with a long-awaited finish.

The heavyweight attacked Strikeforce import Chad Griggs with a flying double-knee and then choked out him midway through the opening round.

The fight was part of tonight’s UFC 145 event at Atlanta’s Phillips Arena. It aired on FX following earlier Facebook prelims and prior to the pay-per-view main card.

Browne struck early with a clean flying double-knee and then additional knees from the clinch. Griggs survived but was quickly taken to the mat, where Browne delivered heavy ground and pound from the top. He then moved to an arm-triangle choke, which Griggs valiantly but unsuccessfully tried to fight off. A few moments after Browne locked it in, Griggs was forced to tap out.

He said the flying knees were something he drilled constantly in training – and his teammates paid the price.

“I had been hitting those all through practice the last eight weeks,” Browne said. “My training partners – Shawn Jordan, Anthony Hamilton, Cody Eastman – they all have busted ribs because of those knees.”

Browne (13-0-1 MMA, 4-0-1 UFC) remains undefeated with the win, which was his first via submission since his third pro bout back in 2009. Griggs (11-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), meanwhile, snaps a six-fight win streak that included Strikeforce victories over Bobby Lashley, Gianpiero Villante and Valentijn Overeem.

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